VIRULENCY Synonyms: 69 Similar and Opposite Words

virulency

noun

ˈvir-ə-lən(t)-sē

Definition of virulency

as in severity

biting sharpness of feeling or expression the virulency of his critical judgments became the stuff of Broadway legend

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of virulency The virulency of Covid-19 trained even those of us who shop locally out of principal to purchase online. — Marc Peruzzi, Outside Online, 2 Mar. 2021

Recent Examples of Synonyms for virulency

Noun

Tyreke Smith had a good month, but the severity of his hamstring injury could make Harris’ path cleaner.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2026
Some recalls, Eskin said, are made after companies’ routine testing catches a pathogen before anyone gets sick, while others involve outbreaks that are already underway and vary widely in size and severity.

— Dian Zhang, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of severity

Noun

This copper beauty serves up bold floral and citrus aromas, plus the signature IPA bitterness.

— Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Little united the Syrian rebels during the country’s civil war from 2011 to 2024 outside of their hatred of Assad, and Damascus has sought to cultivate this memory of bitterness to keep the country’s disparate groups together.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of bitterness

Noun

Monsoon rains repeatedly destroy their shelter, and the city offers them little beyond hostility and indifference.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 Aug. 2026
While Connecticut has responded to these attacks, creating a new student loan program and funding tens of millions in research programming in lieu of federal hostility, the attacks keep coming.

— Derek Slap, Hartford Courant, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of hostility

Noun

Firefighters and authorities in both European countries were caught off guard by the virulence of the fires, which were fueled by high temperatures and the long-term effects of climate change.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
The virulence of the French and Spanish wildfires, fueled by high temperatures and the long-term effects of climate change, caught fire crews and authorities off guard.

— Mark Carlson, Fortune, 25 July 2026

Definition of virulence

Noun

Steele said authorities concluded the shooting did not meet the legal standard for a murder charge because the evidence did not support a finding of malice or premeditation.

— Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
As Musashi clears away the malice, the locals come out of hiding, and more of Kyoto becomes available to explore.

— Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of malice

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virulence

virulency

virulent

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“Virulency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/virulency. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of virulency

noun

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